We thank God for having shared with us the life of Willie Bell Carter, who was born May 5, 1931, in Leighton, Alabama, to the late Reverend Tamrue Thompson and Lula Mae Rand. He was the last brother of his siblings. He departed this life on Friday, November 1, 2024, at his residence.
He accepted Christ at an early age. Willie graduated from Leighton Training School. He served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, where he worked in communications and gunnery. After being honorably discharged from the service, he lived in many cities. He later settled in Chattanooga where he met his wife and started a family. He retired from Gilman Paint Company after over 40 years as a Supervisor in the Paint Shading Department. He was a mason at F. & A. M. Mount Moriah Lodge #14. He was a faithful member of the Antioch Primitive Baptist Church where he held
various offices including, Trustee, Chairman and Co-Chair of the Deacon board, Superintendent of the Sunday School, Sunday school teacher, Male chorus and Senior choir president. He was very active in the Indian Creek Primitive Baptist Association.
When he became a grandfather, he changed into a totally different person that his children did not recognize. He always had time for his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and bonus grandchildren. His family thought he could fix anything and most times he could. At Christmas time, his house would turn into Santa’s workshop, because he had to put toys, bikes or whatever needed to be assembled.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years Theresa Yvonne Ricks Carter, better known as Bonnie; son- in-law Kenneth Burke; six brothers and eight sisters and several brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-laws and other family members.
He leaves unforgettable memories to be cherished by his four children Maurice Carter, Sr., Michel Carter, Melanie Carter, and Marvis Carter-Burke, all of Chattanooga; seven grandchildren Sharonda (Sam) Spence, Marrietta, GA, Monica Carter, Chattanooga, Maurice (Shederyl) Carter Jr, Kapolei, HI, Marquis (Tracy) Carter, Chattanooga, Marquita (Cornelius) Kendrick, Savannah, GA, Malisha Carter, Chattanooga, Marresa Burke, Louisville, KY; eleven great-grandchildren, Ryan Brown, Marietta, GA, Morgan Ellis, Chattanooga, Malorie Hardy, Chattanooga, Maurice Carter III, Chicago, IL, Makayla and Cornelius Jr. Kendrick, Savannah, GA, Meilani Carter, Jacksonville, AL, Cameron Kendrick, Savannah, GA, Major Sutton, Chattanooga; Madalyn Carter, Chattanooga, Christian Kendrick, Savannah, GA; four sisters Nazarene Darrough, Mobile, AL, Jewel “Faye” (Lemuel) Howell, Muscle Shoals, AL, Maxine Thompson Robinson, Norcross, GA, Clezell Mastin Roberson, Florence AL; In-laws: Johnny Lou Ricks, Flint, MI, Irene Allen and Wanda Malone, both of Chattanooga, Willie “Mukasa” (Maimuna) Ricks, Atlanta, GA, Alicia Thompson, Smyrna, GA, Cecelia Thompson, Bay City, MI, Lily Thompson Davis, Muscle Shoals, AL; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and Antioch Primitive Baptist Church family.
Public viewing will be held 2-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at John P. Franklin Funeral Home. A funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Antioch Primitive Baptist Church, 1107 N. Hickory Street, 37404 on Wednesday, Nov. 13. Interment will be in Chattanooga National Cemetery at 2 p.m.